WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2008

COMING THURSDAY

THE DARK KNIGHT TOPS SPIDER-MAN

The Dark Knight on Tuesday passed Spider-Man for seventh place on the all-time domestic box-office list and became the top-grossing comic-book movie.

The Batman sequel pulled in $5.6 million to push its total to $405.7 million. Spider-Man generated $403.7 million in 2002.

The Dark Knight figures to overtake Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest sixth-place $423.3 million and Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace's fifth-place $431.0 million by the end of the week and should at least threaten E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial's fourth-place $435.1 million and Shrek 2's third-place $441.2 million.

Titanic is the top domestic grosser with $600.7 million, with Star Wars second at $460.9 million.

With the second season of Fox's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles set to premiere on Monday, Sept. 8, The Continuum continues its series of roundtable interviews with Brian Austin Green and Richard T. Jones.

Green returns as Derek Reese, John Connor's uncle, and Jones is back as FBI agent James Ellison.

GREG HORN'S MARVEL PITCH

Comics artist Greg Horn will throw out the first pitch in Toledo on Monday, August 11 for the Triple-A baseball game between the Toledo Mud Hens and the Norfolk Tides.

The appearance is in conjunction with Horn's recent work with Marvel Special Projects and a new line
of comic books created in collaboration with Triple-A baseball. Horn was
selected to paint a series of three images showcasing some of the premiere minor
league baseball teams in the country, including the Indianapolis Indians and the
Tucson Sidewinders. The Mud Hens were so pleased with their illustration
that they invited him to sign at Fifth Third Field.

"I'll be signing about 3,000 copies," Horn said. "I hope this doesn't affect my pitching arm because I'm planning to throw with heat from the mound! Then again, when I see all the people in the stadium I will probably just pitch a few yards away from home plate... I've been told they will boo if I throw a bad pitch."

Copies of the custom comic will be given to the first 3,000 fans attending the game.

Following the baseball comics and Horn's series of "Who Do You Trust?" Secret Invasion images, Horn's work wil be seen in a digital comic book included in the Wal-Mart edition of The Incredible Hulk DVD.

MARVEL COMICS ROUNDUP

The reverse gatefold cover features the iconic Dark Tower keyhole, but the publisher did not reveal what lies behind the front cover.

In other Marvel news:

* A second printing for the sold-out Black Panther #39 will be in stores on Sept. 10. The cover features the interior art of Jefte Palo.

* Marvel unveiled the covers to Lords of Avalon: Sword of Darkness Hardcover, due in stores on Sept. 10.

The book collects Lords of Avalon: Sword of Darkness #1-7. Both covers are by interior artist Tommy Ohtsuka.

* Marvel announced a second printing for Wolverine #67 and a third printing for Wolverine #66. Both are scheduled to be in stores on Sept. 10.

IMAGE COMICS COLLECTS DNAGENTS

Image Comics in October will DNAgents: Industrial Strength Edition TP, a comprehensive omnibus of the superhero series by writer Mark Evanier and artist Will Meugniot.

"DNAgents signaled the creator-owned superhero craze years before it started," Shadowline publisher Jim Valentino said. "The work Mark and Will did foreshadowed a lot of what was to come in superheroes. It's very much the precursor to some of the biggest team books out today. Bringing DNAgents under the Image I and Shadowline is a true pleasure and something I've hoped to do for years."

DNAgents: Industrial Strength Edition collects the entire initial run on the series by Evanier and Meugniot, which introduced the world to the Matrix Corporation and the superpowered teens who rebelled against it. As one of the first independently published superhero books, DNAgents members Tank, Surge, Rainbow, Amber and Sham broke away from the typical genre norms of the day and paved the way for the independent superhero movement that was to come years later. Their unique combination of lush art and compelling characterization made DNAgents one of the most influential books of its era!

The 452-page, black-and-white book will cost $24.99 and be in stores on Oct. 14.

* Wednesday, July 23: Cartoon Network develops three comics properties, Brave: The Brave and the Bold, The Middleman, Boom! Studios to publish Pixar comics, Bongo Comics for October and Oni Press for October.